Creighton's Kalkbrenner Earns Fourth BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Honor
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner made history on Monday as he was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight season. Kalkbrenner is the second player in league history to be named Defensive Player of the Year four times, joining former Georgetown great Patrick Ewing.
A 7-foot-1 center from Florissant, Mo., Kalkbrenner leads the BIG EAST in blocked shots per game (2.7), rebounds per game (9.0) and field goal percentage (.663) while ranking second with 19.4 points per contest. The two-time All-BIG EAST First Team honoree entered Sunday ranked fourth nationally in field goal percentage, fourth in blocked shots, 11th in field goals made and 37th in double-doubles. He owns BIG EAST career records for blocked shots (248), field goal percentage (.639), games played (97), minutes played (2,895) and field goals (544) in league play. Kalkbrenner is second in Creighton history in blocked shots (386), points (2,352) and field goal percentage (.661) and is third in rebounding (1,113).
Between Kalkbrenner and 2017 & 2018 winner Khyri Thomas, Creighton has now had the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in six of the last nine seasons.
Among the other honors Kalkbrenner has picked up in recent days are being a Second Team All-American by College Hoops Today and a Third Team All-American from Field of 68.
St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor was tabbed BIG EAST Most Improved Player. Tarris Reed Jr. of Connecticut has been chosen for the BIG EAST Sixth Man Award. Xavier’s Jerome Hunter has been named the winner of the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.
The league’s head coaches make their selections and they are not permitted to vote for their own players. The BIG EAST will announce the remaining individual awards: BIG EAST Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete on Wednesday, March 12, at 1:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. The BIG EAST Media Award will also be presented.
Saturday's win over Butler helped Creighton (22-9, 15-5 BIG EAST) clinch the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP. The Bluejays will play on Thursday night at 6 p.m. Central against the winner of Wednesday's Georgetown/DePaul First Round match-up.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Tarris Reed Jr., Connecticut
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Jerome Hunter, Xavier
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